DONNA J. PURNOMO

Donna Purnomo is co-owner of the Capital Region’s critically acclaimed “Yono’s” restaurant and the new dp An American Brasserie in downtown Albany. A native of Amsterdam, NY, Donna is a graduate of Long Island University with degrees in Education, Music and Theater.

Though music and theater were Donna’s area of study she switched gears and jumped into the hospitality industry to fill the “business head” gap that was created when she and husband Yono began their own restaurant. More than twenty years of experience in the industry have turned her into a serial multi-tasker, and though Donna’s primary responsibility is to handle all of the financial and administrative matters of Wine and Dine Group LLC she is also the pastry chef and it is not unusual for Donna to book all events and private functions and more often than not to execute them as well.

Donna is active in many charities, foundations and advisory boards including Albany Medical Center Foundation, SUNY Cobleskill and the FBI Citizens Academy.

Donna is a past President of the New York State Restaurant Association and has twice received the Restaurateur of the Year Award and is a recipient of the Community Service Award from the Capital District Chapter of The New York State Restaurant Association. She is the first recipient of the Toque Award from two Chapters of the American Culinary Federation, is a past Woman of the Year and a recipient of The Governor’s Award for Excellence.

Donna’s creative outlets include writing and singing. She has had several articles published in trade magazines, authored and edited cookbooks and is vocalist for the group “Hamilton Street”.

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A little bit about us…

Yono's Restaurant, located at 25 Chapel Street, is Albany's premiere restaurant for world class fine dining. Owned and operated by Proprietors Dominick, Donna and Certified Executive Chef Yono Purnomo since 1986, the Purnomos are there nightly to ensure that you have a truly exquisite gastronomic experience.

Dominick Purnomo, is the Owner of dp An American Brasserie, and the Chef-Sommelier & Maitre d’hotel of Yono’s Restaurant, both located in downtown Albany. Dominick caught the restaurant bug at an early age, his parents, renowned restaurateurs Chef Yono & Donna Purnomo previously owned the 21 Restaurant before opening Yono’s Restaurant in 1986. Purnomo would spend weekends helping around the restaurant as a busser & host during his high school years.

Despite his parents’ strongest discretions, Dominick went on to the State University of New York at Morrisville to pursue a degree in Hotel & Restaurant Management. While there, Dominick had the opportunity to combine all of his natural ability inherited from his parents along with a solid textbook knowledge learned from many wonderful professors & chefs. While at Morrisville College, Dominick became a member of the International Foodservice Executives Association which had a chapter in Syracuse. At the International Convention held in April of 1999 in San Diego, California, Purnomo was elected the Chairman of the Student Board, representing some 3,500 student members of the organization worldwide. At the 2000 convention held in Chicago, Illinois, Purnomo was instrumental in constructing many new programs to get the student members more involved.

Upon finishing Morrisville in 2000, Purnomo came back to Albany to work in the family business. Dominick took over the day to day operations of running Yono’s Restaurant, it was then that he discovered the wonderful world of wine. After having dined in some of the worlds finest restaurants such as Charlie Trotter’s in Chicago, Aureole in Las Vegas, and Lespinasse in New York, Purnomo wanted to bring a world class wine program to Albany, more specifically to Yono’s. This was not the easiest task because at the time Purnomo was only 20 years old and had difficulty breaking into the world of wine. That December, Yono’s Restaurant unveiled a wine list of 250 wines representing 12 countries, garnering it’s first of 4 consecutivee Awards of Excellence from Wine Spectator Magazine, as well as an award for Best Wine Program in the Mid Atlantic States, from Sante Magazine. At the time, this was the largest list of it’s kind to have such an aggressive wine program. Through the next 4 years, the list would grow to almost 600 wines representing every major wine growing region in the world.

In 2002 Dominick was inducted into the Chaine des la Rotusseurs, an international Food & Wine Organization, as the youngest member in the society’s 52 year history. That same year, Dominick decided to pursue the long, arduous, yet coveted title of Master Sommelier. He traveled to Boston to take the first of a 3 part series and passed on the first try! Also in 2003 Purnomo was just one of 4 sommeliers from New York State, and the youngest in the nation to be featured in the prestigious Chalk Hill Winery Sommelier Guide.

In February of 2003, Purnomo decided to try his hand at his first sommelier competition, so he once again traveled to Boston to compete in the Northeast Regional Best Young Sommelier Competition and won!!! In May, Dominick traveled to Miami, Florida to compete in the National Competition against the top 7 young sommeliers in the country from restaurants such as The French Laundry in Napa Valley, Gary Danko in San Francisco, Jöel in Atlanta, and the Future Wine Director of Per Se, in New York City. Once again Purnomo was the youngest of all competitors at just 22 years old, and this time his youth showed its side, as he did not finish in the top 3.

In 2004 the Yono’s wine list which Purnomo created was awarded the Best of Award of Excellence by Wine Spectator Magazine, the only recipient of this award in a 100 mile radius. In December of that year, under Dominick’s direction, Yono’s was awarded Albany’s only 4 star review by Bill Dowd of the Times Union saying, “Such an experience can result in only one conclusion: 4 stars, emphatically”

In 2005 Purnomo was elected to a two year term as the President of the Greater Capital District of the New York State Restaurant Association, the youngest President in the history of the state organization.

Purnomo has presented public and industry seminars for Sante Magazine, The Desmond American Wine Festival, Cornell University, and the New York Wine & Harvest Fest as well as for private groups, and two Fortune 500 companies.

Dominick has written many articles on wine and wine service and currently writes wine reviews for Sante Magazine, an industry publication which distributes to 100,000 hotel & restaurant owners, executives & employees in 3 countries.

Dominick also receives enjoyment from giving back to the community. He has worked with several charities including Living Resources, Girl Scouts of America, the Donald P Lancella Foundation and has chaired events for the American Diabetes Association and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society as well.

DONNA J. PURNOMO

Donna Purnomo is co-owner of the Capital Region’s critically acclaimed “Yono’s” restaurant and the new dp An American Brasserie in downtown Albany. A native of Amsterdam, NY, Donna is a graduate of Long Island University with degrees in Education, Music and Theater.

Though music and theater were Donna’s area of study she switched gears and jumped into the hospitality industry to fill the “business head” gap that was created when she and husband Yono began their own restaurant. More than twenty years of experience in the industry have turned her into a serial multi-tasker, and though Donna’s primary responsibility is to handle all of the financial and administrative matters of Wine and Dine Group LLC she is also the pastry chef and it is not unusual for Donna to book all events and private functions and more often than not to execute them as well.

Donna is active in many charities, foundations and advisory boards including Albany Medical Center Foundation, SUNY Cobleskill and the FBI Citizens Academy.

Donna is a past President of the New York State Restaurant Association and has twice received the Restaurateur of the Year Award and is a recipient of the Community Service Award from the Capital District Chapter of The New York State Restaurant Association. She is the first recipient of the Toque Award from two Chapters of the American Culinary Federation, is a past Woman of the Year and a recipient of The Governor’s Award for Excellence.

Donna’s creative outlets include writing and singing. She has had several articles published in trade magazines, authored and edited cookbooks and is vocalist for the group “Hamilton Street”.

WIDJIONO (YONO) PURNOMO CEC, CFBE

In 1971 flamboyant Chef Widjiono (Yono) Purnomo, a native of Jakarta, Indonesia and graduate of APN Academy Perhotelan Negara, Bandung, Indonesia, embarked on a circuitous career journey in the splendid dining rooms aboard the unparalleled SS Rotterdam, flagship of the Holland America Cruise Lines. Yono met his wife and partner, Donna a passenger on the SS Rotterdam in 1976. They carried on a fairy-tale, shipboard romance, married and settled in Albany, NY where Yono quickly found work in Albany’s most elegant dining rooms. When the opportunity to open his own restaurant came along, Certified Executive Chef Yono “jumped ship” from the dining room to the kitchen and has never looked back.

Chef Purnomo has represented New York State in the American Seafood Challenge, a prestigious national competition held in New Orleans. He was selected as a member of the National Chefs Touring Program for the two year long Indonesian Festival, co-sponsored by Indonesian and American Chambers of Commerce, Economic Development and Travel and Tourism Departments. Chef Purnomo has been featured on the Today Show, and the TVFood Network and has presented his cuisine to sold out audiences at Manhattan’s famed James Beard House three times. Yono’s menu has been replicated for 7,000 of Cornell University’s students and faculty through their Cross Country Gourmet program. Chef Purnomo has won numerous “Best of Show” awards as well as Bronze, Silver and Gold medals through both National and International competitions. Chef Purnomo has represented the United States both individually and as captain of a three member USA team in the British Open Cookery Championship. Chef Purnomo, team manager, led the seven member New York State Culinary Team, Albany! to London for Hotelympia “La Parade des Chefs”, where the team garnered yet another international medal. Yono was featured as one of 28 guest chefs at the Eighth Annual James Beard Awards reception “Flavors of the Far East”, an Asian extravaganza for 1200 discerning guests.

Chef Purnomo strives to introduce his native culture as well as cuisine through cooking classes, demonstrations and lectures for schools, civic organizations, charities, as well as for fellow chefs. He is affiliated with more than 75 charitable and community service organizations.

Chef Purnomo is married to Donna, Co-owner of Yono’s Restaurant. They have two children: Dominick, 29 years old who now works with Yono and Donna in the business, and Alexondra, 27 years old, a teacher in Manhattan.

2009
Guest Chef at the Forge for the South Beach Wine and Food Festival
Hosts Batik Collection Celebration of First Lady of Indonesia and Ann Dunham, Mother of President Obama.
Wine Spectator “Best of” Award of Excellence
Presented Gala Dinner for the Confrerie de La Chaine des Rotisseurs

2008
6 Week Culinary Tour of Dubai and Indonesia
Founded a Scholarship program for NHI Hospitality School in Bandung, Indonesia
Wine Spectator “Best of” Award of Excellence

2007
Guest Chef Indonesian Consulate to cook for President of Indonesia and UN Dignitaries
Four Star Review, Metroland
Inducted into Distinguished Restaurants of North America (DiRoNA)
Wine Spectator “Best of” Award of Excellence

2006
Featured in “New Asian Cuisine” Fabulous Recipes from Celebrity Chefs
Four Star Review, Albany Times Union
American Culinary Federation Achievement of Excellence in Fine Dining

2004
Seminar and Lecture for Minister of Tourism
Indonesian Consulate, Chicago Illinois
Best of Award of Excellence, Wine Spectator
Enlisted by Cappiello Dairy to develop fusion recipes for consumers in the Asian market.

2003
Culinary Demonstration, Flavors of Indonesia for the American Culinary Federation
NE Regional Conference Philadelphia, PA
Lecture and Demonstration in Bandung, Indonesia at APN Hotel School for the AKBAR Reunion
Served on the panel of judges in Jakarta, Indonesia for Inner-Circle Wine Society of Indonesia
Four Star Review from Albany Times Union
Wine Spectator “Award of Excellence”
Sante Magazine Fine Dining Award
Presented Gala Holiday Dinner for the Confrerie de La Chaine des Rotisseurs

1997
Gold Medal, American Culinary Federation
Culinary Cornucopia Grand Award (Best of Show), American Culinary Federation
International Bronze Medal (Individual), British Open Cookery Championship
Team Captain and Founder, New York State Culinary Team, Albany!
Inaugural Community Service Award, New York State Restaurant Assn./Capital District.

1995
Chef of the Year – ACF, Capital District/Central New York Chapter
Featured on the TV Food Network
Vice President, American Culinary Federation Capital District/Central New York Chapter
Guest Lecturer – Culinary Institute of America
Cornucopia of Flavours Cookbook -Director of Project Development

1994
Culinary Cornucopia Grand Award (Best of Show), American Culinary Federation
Gold Medal, American Culinary Federation
Presented Seminar on Indonesian cuisine at the ACF ‘s National Convention in CA.
Recipient of the Chaine des Rôtisseur Medal of Honor.
Featured on the Today Show
Guest Chef, James Beard House

1991
YONO’S is nominated as one of the Best of the Best Restaurants in America
Honored as one of North America’s outstanding chefs
Included in America’s 2000 by Chefs in America
Named Restaurateur of the Year by the NYS Restaurant Association
Recipient of the Medal of Honor from Les Amis D’Escoffier.
Gold Medal, American Culinary Federation

American Culinary Federation
National Restaurant Association
New York State Restaurant Association (Board Member)
Confrerie de la Chaine des Rôtisseurs,Vice Concellier Culinaire
Les Amis D’Escoffier, Charter Member, Board Member
L’Ordre Mondial
The James Beard Foundation, Prof. member
International Association Of Culinary Professionals
FBI Citizens Academy Foundation
Rotary International
World Association of Cooks and Chefs
Advisory State University of New York, Cobleskill
Boards College of St. Rose
Salvation Army
Glenmont Job Corps
Schenectady County Community College
American Lung Association
NYS Restaurant Association

Advisory Boards (expired and current)

State University of New York,
Cobleskill College of St. Rose,
Salvation Army,
Glenmont Job Corps,
Schenectady County Community College,
American Lung Association,
NYS Restaurant Association